His name
at birth was Mugala Ngelengwa (the one who will astonish the
world). M’siri, the future king of the Bayeke, was born in a
region known as the Busabaga (land of the pathfinders-farmers),
in the village of Kazimana in modern-day Tanzania. It is said
that his father gave him the name of Mugala Ngelengwa because he
was born on the day of an eclipse. Grandson of Mwami Muhemwa and
Mugoli (queen) Mahanga, and son of Mwami Kalasa Mazwiri and
Mugoli Manena Liahanze, M’siri and his forebears were vassals to
Mwami Mwinula Kipamira of the Bulebe. His mother Manena Liahanze
was also known as Nakakindi (Ina-Bahindi), perhaps because her
father was from the Bahindi people. Her mother, on the other
hand, was a Mushirombo.

When the
people in the Busumbwa got wind of a very rich land, west of
Lake Tanganyika, Kalasa Mazwiri and his brother (dearest friend)
Kamana Magulu-Kungweshi gathered many men with whom they would
make the journey to Kadata (land of copper- Katanga). When they
arrived, they found astonishing riches and wealth they had been
looking for, such as copper, elephant tusks, ivory, animal skins
of leopards, lions and elephants. It is during this time that Kalasa became blood brothers
(common practice in those days to solidify friendships) with
local Kings, such as Katanga, Mpande, Mubambe, Sompwe, Fukutu,
Lupola, Kinyama and Katara from Mitumba. At the end of their
journey, they returned to the Bugaraganza laden with riches,
promising their return.

During
the second journey, the objectives were roughly the same.
However, this time Kalasa brought his younger son Ngelengwa. At
this stage, we are told that Ngelengwa was approximately 15
years old because of his soft and hairless face (a measure of
maturity in those days). Kalasa chose to take his younger son
along in order to strengthen his heart. In their land, the
Basumbwa were used to long journeys in search of riches, they
were merchants. Ngelengwa impressed his father during the trip
and received many accolades.

On their
way back to the Bugaraganza, Kamana Magulu-Kungweshi, Kalasa’s
dearest friend, mysteriously died. According to stories that
were later shared, Magulu-Kungweshi’s nephews Mihambo and Kulwa
had bewitched him. Ngelengwa witnessed this tragedy and carried
that memory for the rest of his life. After the second journey,
Kalasa never returned to Katanga. He stayed in the Busabaga for
good, and lived as a wealthy man until his death.

Even
though many years had gone by, Ngelengwa had only one thing on
his mind: to return to Katanga with his own convoy of men. As a
result, he took a portion of the wealth that was bequeathed to
him by his father and bought fabrics, powder, rifles among other
items. With the rest of the wealth, he proceeded to seek out
supernatural/enchanting powers in the Busukuma. The purpose of
these powers was to protect his body from bewitching powers.
There, he befriended Masuka Muhembeka, a man with extensive
knowledge in this field who happened to be related to his mother
Manena. From the Busukuma he went to several other places to
search for more enchanting powers, such as those of
invisibility. As a man energized with his discoveries, Ngelengwa
went home to prepare for the trek, and concluded the following:
“Indeed, it is enough. I am now ready for my journey to
Katanga”.

At this
time, Ngelengwa was ready to assemble many of his countrymen who
would follow him for the journey. They were from different
families of the Bagaraganza, such as, the Basabaga, Baleve,
Babagwe, Bashyetu, Basonge, Banzeve, Bagomba, Bayogo, Bahindi,
Bashirombo, and the Bagaya. All of them wished to go and find
riches in Katanga. Some stayed with Ngelengwa, while others
returned to the Busabaga.

In these
early stages of Ngelengwa’s life, nobody could have predicted
what was destined for him. As his powers progressively grew,
M’siri began to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with
and his influence became uncircumventable in Katanga, parts of
Zambia and Tanzania.

Segments
of this summary are taken from the book entitled, « Les Bayeke
du Garanganze, Tome I: De l’origine du peuple à la mort du
fondateur de la dynastie, 2005 », written by the late Mwanangwa
Célestin Nsamba Malezi, who was a member of the great council of
the Bwami of the Bayeke.